As Monroeville officials work to iron out details regarding the 2010 budget, a woman elected to council 16 days ago says council members-elect should be included in the entire process.

At a special meeting on Monday, Monroeville Council voted, 6-1, to reject two resolutions regarding the presence of newly elected officials in executive sessions.

The resolutions were the result of Councilwoman-elect Diane Allison's request to attend an executive session discussion regarding personnel matters related to the 2010 budget.

One resolution supported bringing newly elected officials into executive sessions before they are sworn into office. The other would have excluded unseated elected officials and members of the general public from attending executive session meetings.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act allows government agencies to discuss personnel matters, agreements related to labor and arbitration, plans to purchase property, legal consultations, matters involving academic standing or admission, and topics that may interfere with open investigations during executive session meetings held out of the public's view.

The act, however, also allows agencies to invite individuals into executive sessions as they choose.

Councilman Dave Kucherer raised the motion to reject both resolutions, saying each one attempts to change guidelines of the Sunshine Act.

"If we pass these, that's an actual violation of the law," said Mr. Kucherer. "If we amend the Sunshine Act, we are usurping our state legislators."

He pointed out that the borough code allows newly elected officials to reopen the budget after they're sworn in, but Ms. Allison said that will unnecessarily prolong its passage. She also said the resolution to bring newly elected officials into all executive sessions went beyond her request to attend executive sessions related to the budget.

"I would have liked to have seen them ask council, 'Can [council-elect members] be included in these executive sessions because these are concerning the budget?' " she said.

Councilwoman Lois Drumheller, who voted against rejecting the resolutions, agreed their passage would have violated the Sunshine Act, but pointed out that council has invited newly elected officials into executive sessions in the past.

Following Monday's vote, council adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel matters related to the possibility of laying off municipal employees. With the municipality facing a $3.6 million deficit next year, council is considering reducing its refuse-collection crew size and offering early retirement incentives to employees.

By Tuesday night's budget workshop, officials had reduced the deficit by more than $500,000 by cutting summer programs, installing LED light bulbs in municipal buildings and passing on delinquent tax collection fees to delinquent taxpayers, as well as employing other measures.

Council agreed to include closing the municipal pool as part of the debt-reduction plan, but noted it would face heavy opposition during public hearings.

The budget is expected to be delivered to council on Nov. 30 and will be reviewed during public hearings on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21. Council has until Dec. 31 to adopt the budget.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.